The Zydepunks – Exile Waltz

The Zydepunks
Exile Waltz
Nine Mile

The Zydepunks cornered the market when it comes to Zydeco music with a punk tinge. No other band could successfully combine those genres and not sound like imitators. Since their formation, the Zydepunks have been one of New Orleans’ most rousing live performers. Their energetic arrangements will get you moving whether you’re at a bar or a Celtic festival.

On their new album, “Exile Waltz,” the Zydepunks deliver a rambunctious collection of Celtic, Irish, and European standards. The rhythm section anchors their punk style, while the accordian, fiddle, and Ti-Juan’s hyper Afro-French vocals give them an authentic Zydeco feel. “Boudreaux Crosses the Danube” starts off with a winding melody straight from a jack-in-the-box, and then explodes into a lightening-fast variation on an Irish jig. Shortly after the halfway point, the song breaks down into a hypnotic waltz, but soon regains its frisky tempo. A seductive little number that recalls old Parisian nights unravels into a rapid-fire accordion assault on “Andropov/Polka Felix.”

While the Zydepunks twist on these standards is interesting, it would be nice to hear some originals scattered through out. Still, it’s very difficult to get bored while listening to a Zydepunks record. “Exile Waltz” is lively, infectious, and an extremely fun listen.

- Richard Giraldi

"Zydepunks Live @ The Dragon's Den"


Originally published in OffBeat September 2007